Notable Round 3 Central–North Florida Games to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1A: University Christian vs Trinity Christian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong Jacksonville-area matchup featuring two tradition-rich programs that continue to develop hidden-gem talent. This one has the pieces to be one of the most competitive 1A games of the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='547874' first='Terel' last='Dallas'] | Trinity Christian Academy l</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Khalil Thompson | University Christian<br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A: Pensacola Catholic (11-1) at Jacksonville Bolles (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolles rolled last week with a 51–27 win over Florida High and now draws a strong Pensacola Catholic group that enters at 11–1. A matchup of two disciplined, well-coached teams with clear playoff experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1153040' first='Xander' last='Edwards'] | Bolles&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ethan Crandall | Pensacola Catholic&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A: Melbourne Eau Gallie (9-3) at Bishop Moore (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Moore is coming off a comfortable 36–8 win over Eastside, continuing their strong postseason run. Eau Gallie brings athleticism and a defense that can create problems. This one features speed on both sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='402800' first='Amar'e' last='Johnson'] | Bishop Moore&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1247547' first='Xavier' last='Lherisse'] | Eau Gallie<br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A: Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (11-1) at [player_tooltip player_id='1640270' first='St.' last='Augustine'] (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1640270' first='St.' last='Augustine'], fresh off a 44–12 win over Ed White, enters this matchup playing their most complete football of the season. Choctaw brings physicality and a strong ground attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Durell Preston | [player_tooltip player_id='1640270' first='St.' last='Augustine']&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ellis &amp; Mario Alloway | Choctawhatchee&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A: Lake Wales (10-2) at Orlando Jones (10-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A district rematch featuring high-level talent on both sidelines. Jones edged Vanguard 29–18 in Round 2, while Lake Wales continues to settle in behind a young but confident offense. Expect a tighter, more physical game the second time around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='405300' first='Dereon' last='Coleman'] | Jones&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1670990' first='Kaneilius' last='Purdy'] | Lake Wales&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A: Lakeland (10-2) at Edgewater (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakeland survived a tough 15–8 win over Gaither, but Edgewater presents a new level of challenge as one of the top undefeated teams left in the bracket. This is one of the most anticipated showdowns statewide.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kelin Hendrix | Lakeland&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Damien Moore | Edgewater&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A: Jacksonville Mandarin (11-1) at Buchholz (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buchholz controlled Round 2 with a 29–17 win over Nease and now faces a Mandarin team that has been one of the most balanced units in 6A. Two heavyweights with multiple recruits on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Andrew Whittemore | Buchholz&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='419128' first='Brysen' last='Wright'] | Mandarin<br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7A: Orlando Dr. Phillips (9-3) at Vero Beach (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vero Beach continued its dominant run with a 56–14 win over Lake Nona. Dr. Phillips brings athleticism and physicality defensively, but this is Vero's toughest test yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Effrem White | Vero Beach&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1258724' first='Zion' last='Matthews'] | Dr. Phillips&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7A: Lake Mary (9-3) at DeLand (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeLand has been one of the most explosive teams in Florida, putting up another massive performance in a 65–17 win over Boone. Lake Mary brings a strong passing attack led by one of the nation's top underclassmen quarterbacks. A must-watch game with real state championship implications.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='929623' first='Marceles' last='Carey'] | DeLand&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1206696' first='Noah' last='Grubbs'] | Lake Mary&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->